BREAKING: Kilmar Garcia Was Tortured in El Salvador Prison After Wrongful Deportation

Kilmar Garcia Tortured After Deportation—Now Back in U.S. Custody and Facing Trial

Kilmar Ábrego García, a 29-year-old Maryland resident, was wrongfully deported to El Salvador in March, despite a U.S. court ruling that he would likely face torture if returned.

Now, according to an amended court complaint reviewed by Axios, García alleges he was brutally tortured inside the country’s notorious mega-prison, CECOT.

What Happened

• García says he was beaten, sleep-deprived, underfed, and forced to kneel for hours at a time inside CECOT.

• He was stripped, denied basic hygiene, and subjected to ongoing psychological abuse.

• The conditions described match international reports about human rights violations in the prison, which has been heavily criticized for mass detentions without due process.

Back in U.S. Custody

• After weeks in custody in El Salvador, García was flown back to the U.S. on June 6 and is now being held in Tennessee, facing human smuggling charges. His trial is set for July 16.

• A federal judge denied bail, warning DHS could deport him again before his court date.

• The Justice Department insists he will remain in the U.S. through his trial, according to AP News.

Why It Matters

• A 2019 immigration judge explicitly barred his deportation, citing the likelihood of torture—a ruling that was ignored.

• U.S. lawmakers like Sen. Chris Van Hollen have called the prison “one of the most notoriously inhumane and dangerous” and are demanding accountability.

• The case has triggered bipartisan calls for a review of U.S. cooperation with El Salvador’s government and raised alarms about due process, constitutional violations, and executive overreach.

As this story develops, García’s case may become a flashpoint in national debates over immigration policy, foreign detention partnerships, and the protection of civil liberties—even for those not born in the U.S.

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Sharad & Gavin | The Centered America Team